The Kreutzer Sonata, And Other Stories : Book 03, Chapter 05

1889

People

(1828 - 1910) ~ Father of Christian Anarchism : In 1861, during the second of his European tours, Tolstoy met with Proudhon, with whom he exchanged ideas. Inspired by the encounter, Tolstoy returned to Yasnaya Polyana to found thirteen schools that were the first attempt to implement a practical model of libertarian education. (From : Anarchy Archives.) • "The Government and all those of the upper classes near the Government who live by other people's work, need some means of dominating the workers, and find this means in the control of the army. Defense against foreign enemies is only an excuse. The German Government frightens its subjects about the Russians and the French; the French Government, frightens its people about the Germans; the Russian Government frightens its people about the French and the Germans; and that is the way with all Governments. But neither Germans nor Russians nor Frenchmen desire to fight their neighbors or other people; but, living in peace, they dread war more than anything else in the world." (From : "Letter to a Non-Commissioned Officer," by Leo Tol....) • "It is necessary that men should understand things as they are, should call them by their right names, and should know that an army is an instrument for killing, and that the enrollment and management of an army -- the very things which Kings, Emperors, and Presidents occupy themselves with so self-confidently -- is a preparation for murder." (From : "'Thou Shalt Not Kill'," by Leo Tolstoy, August 8,....) • "There are people (we ourselves are such) who realize that our Government is very bad, and who struggle against it." (From : "A Letter to Russian Liberals," by Leo Tolstoy, Au....)

CHAPTER V.

Before dawn the next morning Polikey was up, and after harnessing the mare
and looking in his hat to see that the money was all right, he started on
his return journey.

Many times on the way Polikey took off his hat to see that the money was
safe. Once he said to himself, “I think that perhaps it would be better if
I should put it in my bosom.” This would necessitate the untying of his
sash, so he decided to keep it still in his hat, or until he should have
made half the journey, when he would be compelled to stop to feed his
horse and to rest.

He said to himself: “The lining is not sewn in very strongly and the
envelope might fall out, so I think I had better not take off my hat until
I reach home.”

The money was safe—at least, so it seemed to him—and he began
to think how grateful his mistress would be to him, and in his excited
imagination he saw the five rubles he was so sure of receiving.

Once more he examined the hat to see that the money was safe, and finding
everything all right he put on his hat and pulled it well down over his
ears, smiling all the while at his own thoughts.

Akulina had carefully sewed all the holes in the hat, but it burst out in
other places owing to Polikey’s removing it so often.

In the darkness he did not notice the new rents, and tried to push the
envelope further under the lining, and in doing so pushed one corner of it
through the plush.

The sun was getting high in the heavens, and Polikey having slept but
little the previous night and feeling its warm rays fell fast asleep,
after first pressing his hat more firmly on his head. By this action he
forced the envelope still further through the plush, and as he rode along
his head bobbed up and down.

Polikey did not awake till he arrived near his own house, and his first
act was to put his hand to his head to learn if his hat was all right.
Finding that it was in its place, he did not think it necessary to examine
it and see that the money was safe. Touching the mare gently with the whip
she started into a trot, and as he rode along he arranged in his own mind
how much he was to receive. With the air of a man already holding a high
position at the court, he looked around him with an expression of lofty
scorn on his face.

As he neared his house he could see before him the one room which
constituted their humble home, and the joiner’s wife next door carrying
her rolls of linen. He saw also the office of the court and his mistress’s
house, where he hoped he would be able presently to prove that he was an
honest, trustworthy man.

He reasoned with himself that any person can be abused by lying tongues,
but when his mistress would see him she would say: “Well done, Polikey;
you have shown that you can be honest. Here are three—it may be five—perhaps
ten—rubles for you;” and also she would order tea for him, and might
treat him to vodki—who knows?

The latter thought gave him great pleasure, as he was feeling very cold.

Speaking aloud he said: “What a happy holy-day we can have with ten
rubles! Having so much money, I could pay Nikita the four rubles fifty
kopecks which I owe him, and yet have some left to buy shoes for the
children.”

When near the house Polikey began to arrange his clothes, smoothing down
his fur collar, re-tying his sash, and stroking his hair. To do the latter
he had to take off his hat, and when doing so felt in the lining for the
envelope. Quicker and quicker he ran his hand around the lining, and not
finding the money used both hands, first one and then the other. But the
envelope was not to be found.

Polikey was by this time greatly distressed, and his face was white with
fear as he passed his hand through the crown of his old hat. Polikey
stopped the mare and began a diligent search through the wagon and its
contents. Not finding the precious envelope, he felt in all his pockets—BUT
THE MONEY COULD NOT BE FOUND!

Wildly clutching at his hair, he exclaimed: “Batiushka! What will I do
now? What will become of me?” At the same time he realized that he was
near his neighbors’ house and could be seen by them; so he turned the mare
around, and, pulling his hat down securely upon his head, he rode quickly
back in search of his lost treasure.